[Montgomery, Alabama] Former Brookside Police Chief Dennis Ray McCoy, 53, of Dora, was recently convicted of several charges stemming from investigation by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), including using his official position for personal gain, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, obtaining criminal offender record information under false pretenses, and computer tampering. The guilty verdict of computer tampering on a system under the control of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) marks the first conviction under the Class B felony provisions of the Alabama Digital Crimes Act which took effect in August 2012.
While serving as police chief of Brookside, Alabama, McCoy became the subject of an investigation by the SBI. McCoy resigned as his position as Brookside Police Chief in January 2013 and was subsequently hired as a part-time patrol office for the Warrior Police Department.
The SBI investigation resulted in evidence against McCoy being presented to the Jefferson County Grand Jury by the District Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit, Birmingham Division. On the day his case was being considered by the Grand Jury, McCoy illegally accessed ACJIC information systems. Additionally, while on duty at the Warrior Police Department, McCoy improperly accessed the confidential protected information of two individuals, his co-defendant in the case and a witness who had been subpoenaed to testify on behalf of the state.
The case was investigated by agents of SBI and ACJIC and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick Lamb of the 10th Judicial Circuit, Birmingham Division. McCoy was acquitted of additional ethics and theft charges.
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The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was created by Act 2013-67 and represents the consolidation and realignment of 12 state law enforcement agencies/functions into one entity. ALEA is currently in a transition period, and upon full implementation on January 1, 2015, will be responsible for the functions and missions of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Fusion Center, Criminal Justice Information Center, Marine Police, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Enforcement, Department of Revenue Enforcement, Forestry Commission Investigations, Agricultural and Industry Investigations, Public Service Commission Enforcement, and Office of Prosecution Service Computer Forensics Lab.
